Pre-summit outings on the waterways around Crystal River on Friday gave attendees the chance to get together for social time and inspiration.
Friday evening an audience gathered on the waterside lawn of Plantation Inn at sunset to watch Oscar Corral's award-winning documentary, "Fellowship of the Springs."
Volunteers Chelsey and Chris Stevens and Michael McGrath welcomed 200 attendees in for the 2022 Springs Summit panels and presentations.
Hover on video to play: Hosted at the Plantation Inn on Crystal River, the 2022 Summit got underway officially at 10am on Saturday April 9.
Every available seat was reserved days before the event began. Attendance for all panels and presentations was free thanks to sponsors, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
One of our goals for this year's summit was to bring more young springs advocates into the movement. Here Executive Director Ryan Smart answers questions during one of the panels.
There's no substitute for in-person conversations. John Jopling, president of Ichetucknee Alliance, presents a question for the panel of springs experts.
Hover on video to play: Communications expert Angela Bradbery led one of those most talked-about sessions of the day, "Communicating for Change." How do we move from awareness to action?
Our "Photography & Social Media" Panel: Kelly DelValle, Reme Vaught Hastings, John Moran, Michelle Colson (Mermaid Michi) and Mike Winkles.
The State of the Springs: A Panel Discussion on Springs Policy & Law. with Bill Kerr, Former SJRWMD Governing Board Chairman. Sen. David Simmons, former state senator and sponsor of the Springs & Aquifer Protection Act. Moderator Dr. Bob Palmer. Dr. Bob Knight, Director of the Florida Springs Institute. Doug MacLaughlin, FSC attorney, retired SFWMD attorney.​ ​​
Erica Hernandez, Conservation Director for Alachua Conservation Trust​ gave an inside look at the land conservation projects that are ongoing to preserve land and protect water quality in the Santa Fe and Suwannee River basins.
"Raising Awareness" is different from inspiring people to take action. Communications expert Angela Bradbery discussed how to communicate springs conservation in ways that enact real change.